Mum Shamed for Breastfeeding in Front of Older Child

A mum-of-three has revealed how she’s been criticised for feeding her baby, and three-year-old daughter, in front of their older brother.

Irina Naumova, 33, first received the criticism after sharing a snap of her breastfeeding her middle child, then three, while pregnant with her third, and as her eldest son (now 6) looked on.

“Some wrote that I must be sick in the head to have photos like this taken, that I shouldn’t be a mother and that my kids will grow up with problems,” the mum told the Daily Mail.

One mother wrote: ‘I’m all for breastfeeding but having an older boy standing next to his mum with her boob out for her three-year-old is kind of creepy.’

‘You are sick! The maximum it’s two years!! God forbid which kind of a mother you are?!’ another wrote.

Irina has since given birth to her son Leo and now feeds both her newborn and her toddler at the same time.

‘Some wrote that I must be sick in the head to have photos like this taken, that I shouldn’t be a mother and that my kids will grow up with problems,’ she explained. ‘All because they didn’t like the fact I was breastfeeding my three-year-old.’

She tells Daily Mail, ‘I’m proud of myself for breastfeeding my babies and feel it’s important to spread the word about how good and healthy it is to breastfeed whenever possible,’ she said.

‘I was amazed at how nasty some of these women were being – shocked that fellow mummies would be so critical. I wasn’t upset, just genuinely surprised,’ Irina explained.

‘The comments don’t bother me,’ says Irina, who’s since had a second photo shoot done where she’s breastfeeding both Leo and Anastasia at the same time.

‘It’s sad, as I think people who make comments like these will probably never change their minds, but there are so many others who’ve been genuinely curious about tandem feeding and breastfeeding during pregnancy and messaged me to ask questions.

‘I’ve actually set up a separate FB page, Moo Moo Time, now for anyone who’s interested in finding out more or sharing their own experiences.’

Looks very natural to us!

Share your comments below

35 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 12 Jan 2023
    10:56 am
How can we expect children not to bully others when even adults who are raising children cant grasp the concept?

- - mom81879 said
  - 17 May 2019
    6:32 pm
She is going to be fiat out with breast feeding two little humans. But I don’t see an issue with her doing it in front of older siblings

- - mom74005 said
  - 10 Mar 2019
    10:10 pm
My goodness it is perfectly natural

- - mom68673 said
  - 23 Jan 2019
    4:02 pm
Perfectly natural. But feeding a 3 year old?! The girl is that age she should be off breast and drinking cows milk.
However, it’s good she is able to breastfeeding in front of her older son.
My 6 year girl watched me feed her youngest brother when he was born. Both my daughter and I wasnt concerned about it.

- - ella12 said
  - 20 Dec 2018
    4:53 pm
I agree that it is natural but she needn’t post it and share it.

- - tessie said
  - 18 Dec 2018
    10:15 am
I have no problem with Mum’s breastfeeding their children to whatever age they want. I just don’t understand why they have to put photos of it online. If you don’t want to hear a lot of negativity about you doing this then keep it private.
- mom318672 replied
  
  18 Dec 2018 , 11:54 am
  Yes! I loved breastfeeding, I just don’t see the point in posting it online??? You know you will get attention for it – both good and bad, so why do it!
- - rovermum said
  - 17 Dec 2018
    9:04 am
Breastfeeding the way she does within her family is up to her. What I don’t understand then, is the need to document and share it. If you want to do it for absolutely personal and altruistic reasons, why the need to share it with others? It’s inviting commentary.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 16 Dec 2018
    10:53 am
breast feeding is perfectly natural and nothing to be ashamed of. My daughter used to watch me. That being said a 3yr old is way too old to be breast fed.

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 15 Dec 2018
    3:28 am
What a lovely way to normalise breastfeeding in the eyes of her children 🙂

- - Blossom said
  - 14 Dec 2018
    11:26 pm
The boy was probably breastfed when the girl was a baby. I wonder whether the Mum still produces colostrum when a newborn arrives and then the elder child gets only that for a few days. Wonderful how natures works.
- mom311261 replied
  
  15 Dec 2018 , 11:08 am
  Yes, it goes back to colostrum for a few days but I find the milk comes in a little sooner when tandem feeding. And yep, the older child’s poo changes during that time – something that surprised me the first time!
- - musicmum said
  - 14 Dec 2018
    8:56 pm
I don’t know why breastfeeding is becoming such a hot topic lately, maybe because people post photos online, but it is all natural, what do the tribal women that sit around mostly naked in some African nations do?, or the Amazonian women in tribes?, all natural, and they are all accepted and celebrated. We need to stop making it a thing and stop shaming women for their choices and get on with real life. If women have to keep hiding away and making things taboo, then that is what is unhealthy. Why are men so obsessed with breasts? It makes you wonder that in some tribal groups the breast is not attractive to the men.

- - Myrlie said
  - 14 Dec 2018
    8:45 pm
Haters, what is she meant to do while breastfeeding her newborn? Lock herself in a room everytime she feeds. Sorry not practical. Not to mention potentially unsafe, god knows what he could get into while Mum is hiding away. It’s perfectly normal and at least he has a headstart knowing breastfeeding is natural and support his future partner if she decides to breastfeed. Even my 3.5yr old girl knows about Mummy feeding baby her special milk. When baby cries she comes to me telling me the baby is hungry. She even pretended a few times with her baby doll. (only a few, shes not really a doll girl)

- - youngoldlady said
  - 14 Dec 2018
    8:29 pm
This is natural, I’m sure he is not there all the time. If he was to go somewhere else when it was feeding time, he would hardly see mum. My oldest at 4 1/2 saw me and started feeding his teddy bear the same way. It will not do any harm unless something bad happens.

- - mom153091 said
  - 14 Dec 2018
    12:30 pm
There is too much shaming that goes on. We all need to try to accept each other’s ways and that they may not be the same as our ways.
- musicmum replied
  
  14 Dec 2018 , 8:49 pm
  Well said, I agree.
- - Cookfromscratchmum said
  - 14 Dec 2018
    6:35 am
It’s beautiful and natural and I support her BUT did she really have to share a photo on social media to start this.its not necessary to show the world in my opinion ???

- - Ellen said
  - 14 Dec 2018
    4:03 am
Totally normal ! Those who think that breastfeeding and extended breastfeeding is sick are the abnormal ones. They’re blinded with judgements.

- - mom101628 said
  - 13 Dec 2018
    11:10 pm
This is what happens in a normal family – how do children understand what happens in life if they don’t live it.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 13 Dec 2018
    11:02 pm
I think that the people complaining are the ones who have the problem, not the lady breast feeding. It’s so natural and I actually think the pictures are beautiful. People should just keep scrolling if they have an issue.

- - mom290396 said
  - 13 Dec 2018
    10:45 pm
Because, god forbid, he one day has a wife/partner that may choose to breastfeed his child! What is she supposed to do? Tell her son to leave the room because she is going to breastfeed? As a mum of 2 both of mine were attached to me between 5-8 hours at a time, my eldest child (2 yrs old when the 2nd came along) would never have seen me for 4 months!

- - nealsq said
  - 13 Dec 2018
    10:22 pm
How dare she do the most natural thing in the world, I am sure she doesn’t make the oldest child eat in total solitude so why should the middle child?